The Lake Traverse Indian Reservation is the homeland of the Sisseton–Wahpeton Oyate, a branch of the Sioux

Sioux

The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...

 group of Native American

Native Americans in the United States

Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...

s. The reservation is located in parts of five counties in extreme northeastern South Dakota

South Dakota

South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...

 and parts of two counties in southeastern North Dakota

North Dakota

North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....

, USA. Over 60 percent of its land area lies in Roberts County, South Dakota

Roberts County, South Dakota

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,016 people, 3,683 households, and 2,618 families residing in the county. The population density was 9 people per square mile . There were 4,734 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...

, but there are lesser amounts in Marshall

Marshall County, South Dakota

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,576 people, 1,844 households, and 1,252 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile . There were 2,562 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile...

, Day

Day County, South Dakota

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,267 people, 2,586 households, and 1,688 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile . There were 3,618 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...

, Grant

Grant County, South Dakota

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,847 people, 3,116 households, and 2,156 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile . There were 3,456 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile...

, and Codington

Codington County, South Dakota

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,897 people, 10,357 households, and 6,877 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 11,324 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...

 Counties in South Dakota, as well as Sargent

Sargent County, North Dakota

-National protected areas:*Storm Lake National Wildlife Refuge*Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge*Wild Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...

 and Richland

Richland County, North Dakota

-History:Richland County wa formed in 1873. It was named for Morgan T. Rich, an early settler in the area.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 17,998 people, 6,885 households, and 4,427 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile . There...

 Counties in North Dakota. The total land area is 1,449.658 sq mi (3,754.596 km²), and a resident population of 10,408 persons was counted during the 2000 census

United States Census, 2000

The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...

. About one-third of its inhabitants claim to be of solely Native American heritage. Its largest community is the city of Sisseton, South Dakota

Sisseton, South Dakota

Sisseton is a city on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation in Roberts County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 2,470 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Roberts County. Sisseton is home to a number of attractions including the Nicollett Tower and is near the "Song to the...

.

Tribal Information

• Reservation: Former Lake Traverse; parts of Marshall, Day, Codington, Grant and Roberts Counties
• Division: Santee
• Bands: Sisseton (Sissetowan: uncertain, perhaps "Fishing Village"), Wahpeton (Wahpetowan: "Leaf Village")
• Land Area: 106,153 acres (without boundaries)
• Tribal Headquarters: Agency Village, SD
• Time Zone: Central
• Traditional Language: Dakota
• Enrolled members living within former reservation area: 9,894
• Major Employers: Dakota Magic Casino,Dakota Sioux Casino, tribal government, Bureau of Indian Affairs

Tribal Government

• Charter: None; Constitution and Bylaws: Yes -IRA
• Date Approved: October 16, 1946
• Name of Governing Body: Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribal Council
• Number of council members: (7) seven council members
• Dates of Constitutional amendments: November 21, 1978, June 9, 1980
• Number of Executive Officers: (3) Tribal Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Tribal Secretary

Tribal Elections

• Primary election is held in October and the General in November. Members of Council shall serve terms of four years. Any Council and Executive Committee member shall serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms for a total of eight (8) years in the same office. Any Council member or Executive Committee member may again file for office after a two (2) year time period.
• Number of Election districts or communities: 10

Tribal Council Meetings

• The Council shall meet regularly on the first Tuesday, Wednesday and third Thursday of each month or upon call of the Chairman of the Council.
• Quorum number: General Council members is ten percent of eligible members

Education and Media

• Tribal College: Sisseton-Wahpeton Community College, Sisseton, SD
• Weekly newspaper: Sota Iya Ye Yapi (smoke signals)

Famous Leaders: Past and Present

• Darlene Renville Pipeboy is an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate. Her grandfather, Joseph Renville, was among those who befriended French mapmaker, Joseph Nicollet. Today, Pipeboy volunteers at the Nicollet Tower near Sisseton. "Being a Dakota, a twin and a woman is my identity," Pipeboy says. "Those three things are important today and traditionally."

• Paul War Cloud, (1930–1973) a Sisseton-Wahpeton, was born in 1930 near Sica Hollow. A self-taught artist, War Cloud realistically depicted Dakota culture and tradition in his paintings. Many of his works are on display at the Tekakwitha Fine Arts Center in Sisseton. A War Cloud mural, "Unity Through the Great Spirit," hangs at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. War Cloud died in 1973.

• Gabriel Renville
  Gabriel Renville
  Gabriel Renville was Chief of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe from 1866 until his death in 1892. As part of a large fur-trader family of French and Sioux origins, he was an unlikely candidate as Chief of the Sisseton-Wahpeton. However, with the coming of the Dakota War of 1862, his fortunes...
  
   (1824–1892) was the last chief of the Sissetowan and Wahpetowan (non-hereditary). Born in Chief Sweet Corn's village on Lake Traverse, he was born into the Rainville/Renville clan—a family of French and Dakota origins operating a trading post in Minnesota. His appointment as chief in 1866 was seconded by the Sisseton-Wahpeton in 1867.

Communities

• Claire City, South Dakota
  Claire City, South Dakota
  Claire City is a town in Roberts County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 76 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Claire City is located at ....
  
  
• Lake City, South Dakota
  Lake City, South Dakota
  Lake City is a town in Marshall County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 51 at the 2010 census. Fort Sisseton Historic State Park, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is located nearby.-Geography:...
  
   (most, population 46)
• New Effington, South Dakota
  New Effington, South Dakota
  New Effington is a town in Roberts County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 256 at the 2010 census.-Geography:New Effington is located at ....
  
  
• Ortley, South Dakota
  Ortley, South Dakota
  Ortley is a town in Roberts County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 65 at the 2010 census.-History:The town was originally named Andersonville after a family of early settlers in the area of Swedish descent, but changed to Ortley in honor of the conductor of the railroad that...
  
  
• Peever, South Dakota
  Peever, South Dakota
  Peever is a town in Roberts County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 168 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Peever is located at ....
  
  
• Rosholt, South Dakota
  Rosholt, South Dakota
  Rosholt is a town in Roberts County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 423 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Rosholt is located at ....
  
  
• Sisseton, South Dakota
  Sisseton, South Dakota
  Sisseton is a city on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation in Roberts County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 2,470 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Roberts County. Sisseton is home to a number of attractions including the Nicollett Tower and is near the "Song to the...
  
  
• Summit, South Dakota
  Summit, South Dakota
  Summit is a town in Roberts County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 288 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Summit is located at ....
  
  
• Veblen, South Dakota
  Veblen, South Dakota
  Veblen is a city in Marshall County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 281 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Veblen is located at ....
  
  
• Waubay, South Dakota
  Waubay, South Dakota
  Waubay is a city in Day County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 576 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Waubay is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
  
  (part, population 15)